England are once again searching for a way to remove Australia's Steve Smith after a see-saw third day left the first Ashes Test deliciously poised.
Smith, who crafted a superb 144 in the first innings, moved serenely to 46 not out to take the tourists to 124-3, a lead of 34 when bad light ended play early at Edgbaston.
They helped the hosts to 374 all out and a first-innings advantage of 90, which seemed about the minimum required to negate the challenge of batting last on a surface offering increasing amounts of turn.In their quest to dislodge Smith and run through Australia on Sunday, England again look set to be without their all-time leading wicket-taker James Anderson, who batted but did not bowl on Saturday because of a calf injury.
If England can find a way to prise him out early on Sunday, they will be in prime position to limit the chase to something manageable. If he bats into the afternoon, he could put the game beyond the hosts. It took a vicious delivery from Stokes to remove Khawaja, one that jagged back off the pitch and found the inside edge on the way through to Jonny Bairstow.
Off-spinner Nathan Lyon finally took the edge of Burns, who added eight to his overnight 125, and in the same over, the horribly short-of-form Moeen shouldered arms and lost his off stump. When Bairstow slashed at Peter Siddle, England were only 16 ahead.
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